Lighted beverage glass



March 19, 1968 R. H. RUDOLPH ET AL 3,374,344

I LIGHTED BEVERAGE GLASS Filed Oct. 12, 1965 FHQLI 36 74 3a 7 2 Io Sol 4 24 Fma. 2 2 L 2 a a \mltwrogs RALPH .QUBOLPH Dewm Douepas ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,374,344 LIGHTED BEVERAGE GLASS Ralph H. Rudolph, Plymouth, and David Douglas, Manitowoc, Wis., assignors to Douglas Plymouth Corporation, Manitowoc, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Filed Oct. 12, 1965, Ser. No. 495,139 Claims. (Cl. 2406.4)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A lighted beverage glass comprising a hollow stem and a glass shell member removably mounted thereon. A unitary cartridge assembly slideably inserted into the stem through the base thereof, said assembly including a main body portion and a transparent tip member mounted at one end. A lamp holder member, a bulb, a compression spring and a battery are mounted inside the body portion with the bulb positioned adjacent the transparent tip member. A switch knob member is threaded into the base of the cartridge body and adapted for manual rotation to turn the light bulb on and off. The light passing through the transparent tip of the cartridge assembly passes upwardly through the bottom of the glass shell portion into the liquid thereon.

This invention relates to improvements in a lighted beverage glass.

One object of this invention is to provide a unit wherein the glass shell can be readily removed and replaced on the stem assembly in which the lighting unit is mounted.

Another object is to provide a lighting unit and associated stem assembly of relatively simple and inexpensive construction having easily replaced parts.

These objects are attained by a lighted beverage glass comprising a stem assembly having a shell member preferably of glass mounted thereon and a lighting unit mounted in the stem assembly for directing light through the bottom of the glass shell up into the beverage to thereby produce a unique and pleasing elfect. The stem assembly is provided with a plurality of angularly spaced projections thereon adapted for engagement in a groove formed in the outer surface of the shell to permit the shell and stem to be readily connected and disconnected one with the other.

The lighting unit itself is comprised of a body portion having a lamp holder member mounted in the upper end thereof and a dry cell battery mounted in the lower end thereof. A miniature lamp having a pair of flexible lead wires is mounted in the lamp holder. The lamp holder is provided with a central opening therethrough and an olfcenter opening therethrough. The lead wires of the lamp are positioned to extend one through the center opening and the other through the offset opening in the lamp holder for electrical contact with the dry cell battery.

The lead wire extending through the central opening is held in place and electrically connected to the battery by a rivet member mounted in such central opening. The flexible lead wire extending through the offset opening is held in place and electrically connected to the battery by a compression spring mounted between the lamp holder and the battery. The battery is moved into and out of contact with the rivet to turn the lamp on and off by rotation of a switch knob threaded into the bottom of the body member. The entire lighting unit is removably mounted in the stem assembly and can be replaced as a unit or, when desired, the battery and the lamp in the cartridge can also be replaced when necessary.

Other objects and advantages will be pointed out in,

Fee

or be apparent from, the description and claims, as will obvious modifications of the single embodiment shown in the drawings, in which:

1 FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view of a lighted beverage glass made in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the light cartridge mounted in the stem of the glass as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the battery cradle which is one of the component parts of the light cartridge.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 shows the lighted beverage glass of this invention which is comprised of a shell 10 which is removably mounted on a stem assembly 12. The stem assembly 12 is comprised of a stem foot portion 14 and an upper stem portion 16 slidably mounted on the foot portion. A decorative ring member 18 is provided between the upper stem and stem foot as shown.

While the materials of the structure described above can vary to some extent, in the preferred embodiment the shell 10 is made of glass and the upper stem and stem foot portions are made of molded plastic. The glass shell 10 is removably mounted on the upper stem portion 16 by means of a plurality of angularly spaced knobs or projections 20 formed on the stem portion 16. Projections 20 are dimensioned for mating relationship with a groove 22 formed in the lower portion of the shell 10.

It will be noted that the knobs or projections 20 formed on stem portion 16 are angularly spaced on the internal surface of the stem portion as clearly shown in FIG. 4. Due to the relatively wide dimensional tolerances of the glass shell member 10, the projection and mating groove construction has proven desirable to facilitate a reasonably easy insertion and removal of the glass shell on the upper stem portion. This removal and replacement of the shell on the stem is, of course, necessary for washing and for replacement when broken. It should be appreciated, however, that for most washings the entire unit can be simply inverted and the glass shell inserted into the washing and rinsing solutions, and then left to dry in an inverted position.

The liquid in the glass shell is lighted from below to give it a unique and distinctive appearance by means of a cartridge assembly 24 which is inserted into the bore 26 of foot portion 14 as clearly shown in FIG. 1.

The detailed construction of the cartridge is shown in FIG. 2. The cartridge is comprised of a main body portion 28 having an enlarged internally threaded base portion 30 and a tip portion 32 of reduced diameter formed at the top end thereof. A lamp holder member 34 is mounted against a shoulder 36 formed at the top end of body 28. Holder member 34 is provided with a central opening 38 and an offset opening 40 extending therethrough. An electric incandescent bulb 42 is mounted in a central cavity 44 formed in member 34. Bulb 42 is provided with a pair of flexible lead wires 46 and 48, one of which extends through central opening 38 in member 34, and the other of which extends through the oltset opening 40 in such member. Lead 46 is securely held in place by a metal rivet 50 which is pressed into opening 38. The other lead 48 is held firmly in place by means of a metal compression spring 52 positioned around the lower portion of member 34 as shown.

Member 34 may be provided with a concave surface 54 in the top portion thereof adjacent the tip of bulb 42 which surface can be coated with a reflective material to increase the brightness of the light produced by the bulb. A transparent cap member 56 is inserted over the tip portion 32 of the casing which permits light to pass upwardly through the bottom of the glass shell.

Electrical power to light bulb 42 is provided by a dry cell battery 58 of conventional design which is inserted through the base portion 30 of the body 28 and held therein against'the bias of spring 52 by a switch knob 60 threadedly engaged in base portion 30. Before inserting battery 58 into the cartridge body it is first mounted in a metal cradle member 62 (FIG. Cradle member 62 is provided with a pair of Contact flanges 64 and 66 formed at opposite ends thereof and positioned for contact with the casing of battery 58 only.

With the parts assembled as shown in FIG. 2, the electrical current for energizing bulb 42 can be traced starting with the casing of battery 58 through cradle 62, spring 52, lead 48, the filament of the bulb (not shown), lead 46, and rivet 50. The circuit is completed by contact between rivet 50 and the center pole of battery 58 which is accomplished by tightening switch knob 60 into the cartridge base thus causing the battery to be moved upwardly against the bias of spring 52.

The cartridge 24 is held in frictional engagement inside stem foot 14 by means of a pair of projections 70 formed on the exterior of base portion 30 as shown. The cartridge is prevented from rotating in the stem by ears 72 on the inside of upper stem portion 16 which are engaged in grooves 74 formed in the wall of cartridge body 28.

The lighted beverage glass described above is designed particularly for use as a beer glass. When it is desired to use the glass, the light is turned on by rotating switch knob 60 in a clockwise direction. The glass is then filled with beer and presented to the user. The light shining up through cap 56 and the bottom of the glass shell 10 will cause the beer in the shell to glow producing a unique and pleasing appearance. The bubbles rising in the beer add to this effect.

When the beer is finished the light is extinguished by simply turning knob 60 counterclockwise. As indicated previously, the glass shell can be washed in place on the stem assembly by simply inverting the unit and immersing it in a wash solution. If it is desired to wash the entire assembly (shell and stem), the cartridge 24 can be easily removed and later replaced as a unit by sliding it out of bore 26 in the stem foot 14. Should replacement of the shell or more thorough cleaning become necessary the shell can be removed from the stem as previously described.

Although but one embodiment of the present invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A lighted beverage glass comprising:

a stern assembly;

a shell member mounted on said stem assembly; and

a lighting unit mounted in said stem assembly for directing light through the bottom of said shell memher, said lighting unit including a body portion having a lamp holder member mounted in the upper end thereof and a dry cell battery mounted in the lower end thereof, a lamp having a pair of flexible lead wires mounted in said lamp holder, said lamp holder having a central opening therethrough and an off-center opening therethrough, said lead wires of said lamp extending through said center opening and through said otf-center opening for making electrical contact with said dry cell battery, said body portion having a plurality of projections thereon adapted to frictionally engage said stem assembly when said lighting unit is mounted in said stem,

I said body portion further provided with a groove adapted for mating engagement with an ear on said stem to prevent turning of said unit with respect to said stem.

2-. A lighting unit for a beverage glass or other device comprising:

a body portion having a lamp holder member mounted in one end thereof;

a dry cell battery mounted in the other end of said body portion; and

a lamp having a pair of fiexible lead wires mounted in said lamp holder, said lamp holder having a central opening therethrough and an off-center opening therethrough, the lead wires of said lamp extending one through said center opening and the other through said off-center opening for making electrical contact with said dry cell battery, said one flexible lead wire being held in place in said center opening and electrically connected to said battery by a rivet member mounted in said opening, said other flexible lead wire being held in place and electrically connected to said battery by a compression spring mounted between said lamp holder and said battery.

3. A lighting unit according to claim 2 in which said battery is moved into and out of contact with said rivet by rotation of a switch knob threaded into the said other end of said body portion.

4. A lighted beverage glass comprising:

a stem having a foot portion at the lower end thereof adapted to support the stem in an upright position and having a central bore therethrough;

a shell member removably mounted on the top end of said stern; and

a unitary cartridge assembly mounted in the bore of said stem, said cartridge assembly comprising a main body portion having a threaded base portion and an end portion of transparent material to allow light to pass from inside said body out through said transparent end portion, a lamp holder member, a bulb, a compression spring, and

a battery mounted inside said body portion with said bulb positioned adjacent said transparent end portion and with said compression spring mounted between said bulb and said battery, a switch knob member threaded into said threaded base and adapted for manual rotation to move said battery into contact with said bulb against the bias of said compression spring, said unitary cartridge adapted for insertion into said bore of said stem through said foot portion whereby the transparent end portion of said cartridge assembly will be positioned adjacent the bottom of said shell member with the switch knob of said assembly accessible for manual actuation through the foot portion of said stem, said stem and cartridge including means which cooperate to prevent rotation of said cartridge in said stem.

5. A lighted beverage glass according to claim 4 in which said stem and cartridge further include means adapted to securely hold said cartridge in said stem when said cartridge has been inserted into operative position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,177,337 10/1939 Stein 2406.4 2,249,689 7/1941 Gelardin 240-1068 2,532,181 11/1950 Moore 240 6.4 2,806,100 9/1957 Schildbach 24010.66 X 2,965,750 12/1960 Baldwin 2408.2 3,017,502 1/1962 Dent 240-1068 3,128,050 4/1964 Parker 240-4066 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

DAVID L. JACOBSON, Assistant Examiner. 

